7.27.2017

Hari Kondabolu explores 'The Problem With Apu'

Hari Kondabolu has strong feelings about Apu. That's Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the "Indian" cartoon character on the perennial animated series The Simpsons. The comedian has such strong feelings about Apu -- his 28-year "nemesis" -- he made a feature length documentary about the character, The Problem With Apu.

The Simpsons' Indian convenience store owner has been regularly criticized over the years as a racist, broadly offensive stereotype, and yet Apu, voiced by Hank Azaria, is arguably the most recognizable Indian character on American television -- much to the dismay and torment of South Asian folks everywhere.

Apu, as Hari puts it, sounds like "a white guy doing an impression of a white guy making fun of my father."

In The Problem With Apu, Hari sets out to explore the impact of casual racism in The Simpsons and the negative effect that the Apu caricature has had on the Indian American community. And if you ask around, you'll find that a lot of brown folks also have some pretty strong feelings about Apu.